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Demolition at Ipswich Railway Workshops, Ipswich, 1910
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TitleDemolition at Ipswich Railway Workshops, Ipswich, 1910Date Created1910StudioWhitehead StudiosAcknowledgementWhitehead family
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Description
DescriptionDemolition of one of the original workshop buildingsAdditional Information North Ipswich was chosen as the railway terminus to save the cost of bridging the Bremer River and although that decision was reversed at an advanced stage in construction of the first railway, North Ipswich remained the site of the Workshops. The original site was very confined and soon inadequate for the expanding rail system, and from 1885 the workshops began to be moved north to the site of the old rifle range.
The original workshops were erected under the general supervision and plan of Abraham Fitzgibbon as Chief Engineer. Events moved swiftly. Fitzgibbon prepared his report on the railway in July 1863, and the Railway Act was passed in August. The rolling stock was ordered from Britain in October 1863.
Tenders for the first section of railway had only just been called in December 1863, when the press reported that tenders were being called for construction of workshops for the Southern and Western Railway [as it was named] on the north side of the river at Ipswich, to be ready to erect the rolling stock when it arrived from Britain in knocked down form.
The contract for the railway from Ipswich to what is now Grandchester was awarded to Peto, Brassey & Betts in February 1864 and the first sod turned at North Ipswich on 25 February.
The plant and material for the railway was brought by river steamer Leonie to a wharf on the north bank of the river opposite the main town area of Ipswich and downstream from the present David Trumpy bridge. The first railway was laid from the wharf to the area at North Ipswich where the station was to have been built with the original workshops nearby. It was later extended to Hancock's sawmill and may be seen in situ today. The line to the wharf came off this siding, involving a reversal in direction. The hull and machinery of SS Leonie were described in 1870 as lying at the Locomotive Railway Department, North Ipswich.
In July 1867 the Locomotive Superintendent complained that permanent workshops were desperately needed and it was almost impossible to carry out necessary repairs to rolling stock. In December 1869 the tender of Garget was accepted for the erection of new workshops at North Ipswich and for the removal and re erection of the spare engine shed.
There was a fire at the Ipswich Workshops in September 1871 and caused some damage or destruction to carriage fittings but was quickly contained.
A new steam shed meaning locomotive shed was erected at North Ipswich in 1876 holding 6 running engines and two under repair. The old running shed was then turned into a fitting shop.
The workshops were again inadequate, described as "too small, dark and ill ventilated" in 1877. In that year a shed was erected for a new steam hammer 55 by 55 feet and hardwood framed and contained 7 smith fires plus the steam hammer. A boiler making shop 150 by 40 feet being erected on the site of the old moulding shop. The old moulding shop was described as one of the sheds in the yards formerly occupied by the contractors for building the line, Peto, Brassey & Betts which had been altered for moulders use.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.
The original workshops were erected under the general supervision and plan of Abraham Fitzgibbon as Chief Engineer. Events moved swiftly. Fitzgibbon prepared his report on the railway in July 1863, and the Railway Act was passed in August. The rolling stock was ordered from Britain in October 1863.
Tenders for the first section of railway had only just been called in December 1863, when the press reported that tenders were being called for construction of workshops for the Southern and Western Railway [as it was named] on the north side of the river at Ipswich, to be ready to erect the rolling stock when it arrived from Britain in knocked down form.
The contract for the railway from Ipswich to what is now Grandchester was awarded to Peto, Brassey & Betts in February 1864 and the first sod turned at North Ipswich on 25 February.
The plant and material for the railway was brought by river steamer Leonie to a wharf on the north bank of the river opposite the main town area of Ipswich and downstream from the present David Trumpy bridge. The first railway was laid from the wharf to the area at North Ipswich where the station was to have been built with the original workshops nearby. It was later extended to Hancock's sawmill and may be seen in situ today. The line to the wharf came off this siding, involving a reversal in direction. The hull and machinery of SS Leonie were described in 1870 as lying at the Locomotive Railway Department, North Ipswich.
In July 1867 the Locomotive Superintendent complained that permanent workshops were desperately needed and it was almost impossible to carry out necessary repairs to rolling stock. In December 1869 the tender of Garget was accepted for the erection of new workshops at North Ipswich and for the removal and re erection of the spare engine shed.
There was a fire at the Ipswich Workshops in September 1871 and caused some damage or destruction to carriage fittings but was quickly contained.
A new steam shed meaning locomotive shed was erected at North Ipswich in 1876 holding 6 running engines and two under repair. The old running shed was then turned into a fitting shop.
The workshops were again inadequate, described as "too small, dark and ill ventilated" in 1877. In that year a shed was erected for a new steam hammer 55 by 55 feet and hardwood framed and contained 7 smith fires plus the steam hammer. A boiler making shop 150 by 40 feet being erected on the site of the old moulding shop. The old moulding shop was described as one of the sheds in the yards formerly occupied by the contractors for building the line, Peto, Brassey & Betts which had been altered for moulders use.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.
Connections
Government & Non-Government OrganisationsQueensland RailCurated CollectionsWhitehead Studios - The Whitehead CollectionDefining Tulmur | IpswichShaping Our Identity: Industrial ArchitectureBecoming A City: Industry & Manufacturing
Subjects
SubjectsDemolitionIndustrial buildings
Asset Details
Reference IDWHD-003-GPL-0104Asset TypeImage - JpegImages, Maps and Artefacts (Trove mapping field)imageColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhiteOrientationLandscapeGenreArchitecture - CommercialPhysical DescriptionGlass PlateHigher Resolution Available (contact Picture Ipswich)YesCopyright NoticeThis work was created prior to the 1st January 1955. It has been identified as being free of known restrictions under the Copyright Act 1968.
You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
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You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
If you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
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Accession RecordWhitehead, John Wilson [Deceased]
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SuburbGovernment & Non-Government OrganisationsCurated CollectionsDefining Tulmur | Ipswich
Copyright
This work has entered the Public Domain and is free of known copyright restrictions
This work was created prior to the 1st January 1955 or it is an orphan work (photographer unknown) created more than 70 years ago. It has been identified as being free of known restrictions under the Copyright Act 1968.
You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
If you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.
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Demolition at Ipswich Railway Workshops, Ipswich, 1910. Picture Ipswich, accessed 01/09/2026, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/12869